Nailing implement



Jan- 6 1959 H. G. HOFFMAN NAILING IMPLEMENT Filed Feb. 13. 195e 5 @n m mum T T Y. #d k.;

' rIl NAILING IMPLEMENT Harold G. Holman, Rockford, Ill.

Application February 13, 1956, Serial No. 564,967

6 Claims. (Cl. 1-46) This invention relates to nailing implements of the type arranged to hold and guide a nail while it is being driven into a body.

An important object of this invention is to provide a nailing implement for holding and guiding nails as .they are driven into a body having improved means for feeding the nails into the path of the driving member and for releasably retaining the nails thereat.

Another object of this invention is to provide a nailing implement which is adjustable to accommodate nails of different sizes.

A further object of this invention is to provide a nailing implement which will not mar the body into which the nail is driven and which is adapted for use in driving nails in conned spaces, alongside abutments, and also on curved surfaces.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a nailing implement which is of simple and economical construction and which can be readily assembled and disassembled.

These, together with various ancillary objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the nailing implement illustrating the use of the implement;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the nailing implement of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a modified form of nailing implement having a nail magazine mounted thereon;

States Patent() Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the nailing implement, taken on the plane 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the nailing device with parts broken away along the line 5-5 n Fig. 4 and shown in section to illustrate details of construction;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through a further embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

The nailing implement comprises a tubular shell designated generally by the numeral 10 formed of metal or the like which is open at one end 11 thereof and has an inwardly directed frusto-conical nose portion 12 at the other end terminating in a central opening 12a. A resilient insert 13 having a frusta-conical shape is disposed in the nose portion 12 and extends outwardly through the aperture 12a therein. The insert has a longitudinally extending passage 14 therein and a washer 15 having a central :opening 16 is disposed in the shell in engagement with the inner end of the insert. A body 17 is snugly disposed within the shell 10 and a cap 18 overlies the end of the body remote from the washer 15 to thereby retain the block, the washer and the insert in the shell. Lateral tabs 19 are formed on the cap 18 and are aixed to the I shell 10 as by screws 21 which extend through the shell and tabs into the body 17.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1 through 5, the body is formed with a longitudinally extending passage 23 which extends completely therethrough and is aligned with the opening 16 and passage 14 in the washer and insert respectively. A driving member 24 in the form of an elongated rod is slidably disposed in the passage for driving the nails therethrough and a head 25 is provided on the rod and spaced from the end thereof a distance slightly greater than the overall length of the shell and insert so that the end of the rod projects slightly beyond the insert 13 when the head 25 abuts the cap 18. Thus, the driving member is effective to set the nails to a definite and fixed depth into the body designated generally by the numeral 26 in Fig. 2.

The body 17 is cut away intermediate its ends to form a nail guide wall 31 extending longitudinally of the body and intersecting the passage 23 and a second wall 32 also extending longitudinally of the body and intersecting the passage 23. As best shown in Fig. 4, the walls 31 and 32 are angulated with respect to each other and a block 33 is disposed in the shell 10 with one side 34 slidably disposed on the wall 32 and the other side 35 spaced from the wall 31 to define a nail guide slot therebetween. Provision is made foradjusting the width of this slot and for this purpose springs 36 are disposed in recesses 37 in the block 33 and engage the inner side of the shell 10 to.

yieldably urge the block toward the nail guide wall 31. A bolt 39 extends through an opening in the shell and is threadedly received in the block 33 to draw the latter away from the nail guide wall 31. In this manner, the width of the slot may be adjusted so as to guidablv receive a single nail therebetween whereby the nails in the slot will be maintained in a row in sidewise abutting relation, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

In order to move the nails from the slotdeiined by the l wall 31 on the body 17 and the side 35 on the block 33 into the passage 23 and into the path of movement ofthe driving member 24, there is provided a permanent magnet designated 41 and herein shown in a plurality of sections, which permanent magnet is disposed in a recess 42 to extend longitudinally of the passage 23 at the side thereof opposite the nail slot. The magnets arranged in this manner attract the nails in the slot and draw the nails into the passage 23, when the driving member 24is retracted, and releasably retain the nails thereat until the latter are removed by the driving member. It is contemplated that the driving member be formed of a ferromagneticimaterial so that the magnet not only functions to retain a plurality of nails in the nail guide slot, substantially independent of the position of the nailing implement, but also tends to retain the driving member in engagement with the head of the nail in the passage, as the nail is driven into the body 26.

A brake shoe is provided in the nailing implement for engagement with the nail as it is driven into the work and as sho-wn in Fig. 2 may conveniently comprisea U-shaped member 45 formed of spring steel or the like and disposed in a recess 46 in the body 17 between the cut out portion in the end of the body. One leg 45a of the U-shaped member bears against the washer 15 and an inwardly bent finger 47 is formed on the other leg 4511 for engagement with the inner wall of the shell 10 to yieldably urge the member 45 inwardly of the passage 23. The web portion of the U-shaped member 45 thus extends into the passage 23 and engages the nail 48 as it is driven into the workpiece 26. The spring member 45 aids in guiding the nail and prevents premature discharge of the nail from the passage 23.

A brake shoe is also provided at the other end of the Patented Jan. 6, 1959` cut out portion of the block for engagement with the driving member 24. This brake shoe may conveniently comprise an annular button 51 disposed in a bore 52 in the body 17 and yieldably urged inwardly of the passage ,-23 by means of .-a'spring SS-Udsposedibetween a headfon the button 51 and the inner wall of theshell 10.

`The constructionzoftheznailingfimplement shown in Figs1 and2t and thefnailingimplement` of vthegrernbodit mentshownin Figs.. 35,.as thus=far.:described,-is the same. In the vforml shown in Figsfl and 2, thenail.v magazine is` of veryV limited capacityA Since/the shell 1i) has only anxopening 55. formed therein atlthezside ofthe block 17 adjacent thenailslot. ThisV permits nails to, be innsertedinto the slotthrough the; opening 55, and: the nails retained :in theislotxbythet handv 56 ofthe .user in the -mannerillustratedin Fig. l.

In the.formJof,the.:invention.shownin Figs. `3-5, there f isA provided a ylarger .nail: .magaziner designated, generally by thenumeral-t) arranged to store a quantity of nails and to feed the nails into the slot in the body 17. As

vbest shown in Figs. 3 :and 4,- the magazine includes an ,arcuate outer wall` 61 and inwardly 'directed Walls 62 and ,63- which extend toward each other and terminate in spaced relation to dene adischarge opening therebetween adapted to register with the slot in the block 17. The shell 10, as best ,shown in Fig. 4, is provided with 'an opening 64I-registering with the slot in the block 17 and arranged to receive the ends of the walls 62 and 63. .T he magazineis retained in position on the nailing implernenti by means of resilient L-shaped clamps 66 which are aixed, as byfasteners 67 tothe shell 10. ,The'clamps y engageopposed ends ofthe magazine 16 and are arranged to releasably vretain the latter in position on the magazine.

In use of theimplement, the block 33fis adjusted rela- -tive to the wall- 31 on the body 17 in acco-rdance with the nail size being usedvto guidably receive a single nail therebetween. The nails are then fed into the slot. The

magnet 41 attracts the nails, draws thelowermost nail into the passage 23: against the magnet and releasably retains the lowermost` nail thereat.- When the driving member isthereafter inserted into the passage and driven y therethrough by a suitable tool such as the hammer diagrammatically shownl at 68-in Fig. l, the nail- 48 which is retained by themagnet is driven` through the passage 23 in the block-and throughthe aligned passage-14 in .theinsert 13-intothe body'26. .The brake shoes formed by the member 4S and the button 51 respectively engage the nail and the driving member as the nail is being driven vinto the workpiecel to prevent accidental dislodgement of the nail or driving member from. the passage-23. As the driving member is retracted, another nail from the slot is drawn into the passage 23 to permit a repeat operation.

The resilient insert 13 as .previously describedextends beyondftheend of the` shell and engages the workpieceV so as to prevent damaging the same. Since the insert is tapered toa relatively small end face 13a, the

ylatter is readily adaptableforyuse in connedspaces,

alongside abutments, and on curved surfaces. This shape also enables the userto accurately locate the nail by first sliding the point of a nail out beyond the nose portion 12 to a degree suicient to render it clearly visible as vshown in Fig. 5, thereafter placing the point against the y wood at the desired location and then sliding the body of the tool along the nail into contact with the wood preparatory to driving.

The form shown in Figs. 6 and 7 embodies the initial features of the previously described forms but is-somewhat different in structure enabling this form to be manufactured at a lower cost. In this form the body is formed of two molded sections 71 and 72 formed with complemental faces 73 and 74 which have interiitting areas 75 which maintain the two sections in alignment when the parts are arranged in` mating relationship. The body parting line formed by the two sections intersects chambers 76, 77 and Y7E', and also passages 79, 81 and 82 disposed axially of the body and. corresponding in function with the passage 23 of Fig. 2. The two sections are retained in vassembled relationship by kannular rings 83, 84 and 85, in thenature of s nap rings, seated in grooves on the outer surface of the body, a sleeve 86 being disposed around the body in spaced relation to the ends and retained against longitudinal movement between the rings 83 and 84. The tube is rotatable on the body and has anfopening.80;adapted1to be brought yinto registration with the mouth Offthechamber 77 forthe insertion of nails. Springs 87 and 88 are positioned inA chambers 76 and 7.8 and serve the, same functions as the springs and 51--53 of Fig. 2. VThe chamber 7'7. is a nail reservoir having its sidessloped as'shown in Fig. 7 and positioned therein is apmovablewall S9 having edges shaped to rest against the walls of the. chamber, the bottom of the .wall being relievedfor the passage of a drivingfmember 91 similar to the drivingrmember 24. The movable wall has a tongue 92 resting within the top opening` of the chamber, permittingwthe wall to be moved along the chamber toreta'innails ofdiferent sizes intstacked superimposed relationship asgshown in Fig. 6. A. permanent magnet 93;'is seatedfin` the :bottom of chamber. 77 as indicated in Fig. 6.

In this `form-the-body :sections y71u-and 7 Zware! molded fromrubber or the like fsuch:as a soft plastic yor synthetic resin such as polyethylene, thereby eliminatingthe necessity for the resilient insert 13 employed in thepreviously described forms,lsince4 thematerial of the body has the necessary softness,l and -resiliency.

I.claim: 1. A nailing implement'comprising a body having a chamber intermediate the ends thereof defining a reservoir openingI at the side of said body for looselyreceiving a supply of nails,y asleeve .surrounding said body and movable thereon to selectively cover and uncover said reservoir, lsaid body having a nail guide channel extending longitudinally of said-reservoir and in open communication therewith, theV end portions of said body each having a passage therein'aligned with each other and with opposite ends of said channel, angelongated bar type permanent magnet mounted in the body to extend longitudinally of thechannel at the side `thereof opposite said reservoir for attractingl a nail from the reservoir into the channel and for releasably retaining a nail in the channel, and an elongated driving member formed of a ferro-magnetic material mountedfor'axial sliding movement through said passages and. longitudinally of said channel across saidmagnet for driving the nail retained bythe magnet out of the body.

2. A nailing implement comprising a body having a vchamber intermediate the ends thereof defining a reservoir for loosely receiving asupply of nails, said body having a nail guide kchannel extending longitudinally of said reservoir and in open communication therewith, the end portions of saidbody'each-having a passage therein aligned with `each-otherland with opposite ends of said channel, an Helongated bar type permanent magnet mounted Ain the body. to :iextendlongitudinally ofvthc channel atithe sidefthereof opposite saidireservoir for attracting a nail from Athe reservoir-into the channel and for releasablyretaining afnail in .the channel,` anda partition extendingcrosswise ofsaidfzreservoir andgmounted for, sliding movement-longitudinally of' said reservoir to accommodate nails', ofy diierent ,lengths 3. The combination of claim 2 including a sleeve surrounding said body and movable thereon to selectively cover and uncover said reservoir.

4. A nailing implement comprising a body having a passage extending therethrough, said body having a chamber therein intermediate the ends thereof and defined by rst and second side Walls extending longitudinally of said body and each intersecting said passage to define a nail magazine communicating with said passage, an elongated bar type permanent magnet extending longitudinally of said passage at the side thereof opposite said magazine for attracting a nail into said passage and for releasably retaining the nail at said magnet, an elongated driving member formed of a ferromagnetic material slidably disposed in said passage and extending from one end of the body for driving the nail retained by the magnet out of the other end of the body to said passage, and means for changing the dimensions of the magazine to t nails of different sizes.

5. A nailing implement comprising a body formed of a soft resilient material and including two longitudinal sections having complemental intertting faces, said sections having recesses in the intertting faces thereof defining a passage extending longitudinally through the body and a nail magazine communicating with said passage intermediate the ends thereof, a permanent magnet extending longitudinally of said passage at the side thereof opposite said magazine for attracting a nail into said passage and for releasably retaining the nail at said magnet, an elongated driving member formed of ferromagnetic material slidably disposed in said passage and extending from one end of the body for driving the nail retained by the magnet out of the other end of the body through said passage, the outer surface of said body being cylindrical throughout the length of said magazine, and a sleeve positioned around the cylindrical portion of said body and having a slot for the passage of nails to said magazine.

6. A nailing implement comprising a body including two longitudinal sections having complemental intertting faces, said sections having recesses in the intertting faces thereof defining a passage extending longitudinally through the body and a nail magazine communieating with said passage intermediate the ends thereof, an elongated driving member slidably disposed in said passage and extending from one end of the body for driving a nail from the magazine out of the other end of the body through said passage, the outer surface of said body being cylindrical throughout the length of said magazine, and a sleeve positioned around the cylindrical portion of said body and movable with respect thereto to selectively cover and uncover said magazine.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 527,985 Hoofnagle Oct. 23, 1894 612,040 Hoofnagle Oct. 11, 1898 776,393 Harriman Nov. 29, 1904 1,810,528 Paterson June 16, 1931 2,014,726 Flood Sept. 17, 1935 2,133,681 Higgins Oct. 18, 1938 2,199,833 Fleischman May 7, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 124,803 Switzerland Mar. 1, 1928 249,198 Switzerland Mar. 16, 1948 

